An impressed PM announces setting up of five more IITs

Kanpur: Impressed with the research and development record and the quality standards maintained by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) across the country, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced setting up of five new IITs.

Declaring this during his speech after the inauguration of the newly-constructed building complex of the department of biological sciences and bio-engineering at IIT-Kanpur, Vajpayee said this decision has been taken by his government "in wake of the increasing global challenge and competition" in the field of higher education.

Seeking private participation in the endeavour to building the new IITs, which will be done by "upgrading existing academic institutions that have the necessary promise and potential" Vajpayee lauded generous contributions ("guru dakshina") made by alumni to their alma mater in the country.

"I am told that many distinguished alumni have given generous donations to set up new facilities at IIT Kanpur and at other IITs. I warmly commend their spirit of giving back and urge more and more wealthy people in our society to emulate this spirit, so that we can rapidly modernise our educational infrastructure," Vajpayee said.